Entitled: "Harry Houdini stepping into a crate that will be lowered into New York Harbor as part of an escape stunt on July 7, 1912" showing men standing along the side of a barge in New York Harbor as Harry Houdini steps into a crate on the edge of the b
Entitled: "Harry Houdini stepping into a crate that will be lowered into New York Harbor as part of an escape stunt on July 7, 1912" showing men standing along the side of a barge in New York Harbor as Harry Houdini steps into a crate on the edge of the barge for an escape stunt. Photographed by Carl Dietz. Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 - October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American illusionist and stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. He began his magic career in 1891. One of Houdini's most famous publicity stunts was to escape from a nailed and roped packing crate after it had been lowered into water. Houdini first performed the escape in New York's East River on July 7, 1912. Police forbade him from using one of the piers, so Houdini hired a tugboat and invited press on board. Houdini was locked in handcuffs and leg irons, then nailed into the crate which was roped and weighed down with two hundred pounds of lead. The crate was then lowered into the water. Houdini escaped in 57 seconds. The crate was pulled to the surface and found still to be intact, with the manacles inside. Houdini performed this escape many times. While many suspected that these escapes were faked, Houdini presented himself as the scourge of fake magicians and spiritualists. As President of the Society of American Magicians, he was keen to uphold professional standards and expose fraudulent artists. He was also quick to sue anyone who pirated his escape stunts. Houdini died of peritonitis, secondary to a ruptured appendix at the age of 52.
Size: 3009px × 4200px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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